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may involve creative ways to preserve memories, like taxidermy
mounts and display cases of cherished firearms, knives, fishing
lures, and shirt tails pinned to the hunting club “wall of shame.”
Hunters are now creating ways to utilize the benefits of their
harvest beyond the traditional taxidermy mounts and delicious
alligator meat recipes. Alligator hunters are preserving their
memories with items constructed from alligator hides, teeth,
claws and osteoderms (the boney protective plates on the back
of an alligator). There are the typical items created from tanned
hides, such as boots, belts, wallets, gun holsters, knife scabbards,
key chains, and jewelry. Now, Mississippi alligator hunters are
using social media to share extremely
creative new ideas. They are using hides
and bones for picture frames, letter
openers, drink koozies, bow ties, book
covers, gun slings, and more. These
unique items evoke the conversations to
share the stories of the adventures for
generations to come and share the story
of alligator hunting and conservation.
Camaraderie has created traditions and superstition
for many hunting parties. Brad Baugh of Boyle,
Mississippi, always has a supply of good luck peanut
M&Ms, RC Cola, and Big Red sodas on board while
hunting. The hunting team of Tom Grant, also of Boyle,
keeps Oreo cookies on board that are shared after every
successful capture.
Tina Brooks of Philadelphia, Mississippi, says,
“Our boat never leaves the ramp without a supply of
Gator Goobers (Cajun-style boiled peanuts).” Brad
Martin and his wife Debi, of Vicksburg, have a
tradition of approaching the boatramp while
rocking-out to Thunderstruck by AC/DC.
Ashley Harris of Canton
says, “There is nothing
I enjoy more than alligator
hunting with my son and
wife. It’s a family event
that we anticipate all year
long. We are hooked!”
10 FALL 2023